Up to one million people in Uganda will not take part in the 2021 presidential elections as the country’s electoral body closes voter registration a year ahead of elections, as previously reported.
Why This Matters
Despite meeting the age requirement at the time of the election, young voters will be unable to vote in the January 2021 elections. Since more than 75% of Uganda’s population is below the age of 30, this means a lot of youths will be left out of the electoral process and this has huge implications for Uganda as it selects a leader.
Uganda: Parliament Vs Electoral Commission
The National Electoral Commission in Uganda has cited a lack of resources and logistics issues as the reason for the decision but members of parliament do not agree. In response to the situation, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, said: “There is no excuse, our position as a house is clear, we shall not be a party to any attempt to disenfranchise Ugandans.”
Charity Ahimbisibwe of the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy thinks the comments from parliament are for political interests. “We warned about it earlier, but it is just now that the MPs pay attention. Suddenly, they notice they will lose votes when these people are not on the register,” she told DW.
What is Museveni Afraid Of?
Muneinazvo Kujeke, a junior researcher at ISS Pretoria, posits that Uganda’s incumbent could be worried about the heightened interest of youth in the politics of the country as well as their visibility in the opposition, following the rise of the cross-party, the People Power Movement led by musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine.
If they cannot be registered, it means a lot of Bobi’s followers will be unable to vote in 2021. Many believe that President Museveni’s running for president for the sixth time is influencing the Electoral Commission to block votes from young people.
President Museveni came into power in 1986 and has had the constitution amended twice to remove the term and age limits. This positions him to remain president for life.
